FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 18, 2011 INTERVIEWS: Tom Jensen 919-744-6312 IF YOU HAVE BASIC METHODOLOGICAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL
[email protected], OR CONSULT THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF THE PRESS RELEASE Thompson and Neumann closing on even Feingold in WI-Sen. Raleigh, N.C. – Yesterday’s release showed Tommy Thompson as potentially very vulnerable to a challenge from his right by Mark Neumann for the Republican Senate nomination in Wisconsin. But despite Thompson’s electability claims, even Neumann is in decent shape against any possible Democratic nominee but Russ Feingold, as the race has taken a definite turn toward the GOP since PPP last polled the state in May. Now Neumann tops Ron Kind, 43-40; Tammy Baldwin, 44-40; and Steve Kagen, 45-38, while trailing Feingold, 51-44. Three months ago, Neumann lagged Kagen by one point, Kind by four, Baldwin by five, and Feingold by 12, a shift of five to nine points on the margin. Thompson is still the stronger candidate, but he only outperforms Neumann by one to six points—not so much, particularly when taking into consideration the 34-point disparity between the two men’s name recognition. Thompson lags Feingold only 48-47, a closure of nine points in three months. But he leads Kind, 48-41 (up seven); Baldwin, 50-42 (up seven); and Kagen, 49-41 (up five). Feingold is still the best-known and best-liked of the candidates, 49% having a favorable impression of him and 43% a negative one. That bests Thompson’s 44-42, Baldwin’s 26- 28, Neumann’s 25-27, Kind’s 18-26, and Kagen’s 12-23.